MILLERSBURG A little home cooking went a long way for the West Holmes track team in the district meet, as it will be well represented at regionals in Byesville starting Wednesday.

Competing on familiar turf the district meet, which began Wednesday and wrapped up Saturday, was held at West Holmes the Knights qualified 20 members combined from the boys and girls squads for regionals, while taking a team district title on both sides.

"Any time the surroundings are familiar it helps," said West Holmes track coach Chris Gardner. "Of course, the track is still eight lines and 400 meters. That doesn't really change, but the whole surrounding atmosphere is helpful."

Gardner said he expected to send a lot of the team to regionals, but team titles were not on his mind.

"Once you get to this point, winning the team title is really just the icing on the cake because it's really about getting as many individuals as possible to regionals," he said. "But if you get the individuals going, the team standings will take care of themselves."

The boys, as has been the case all year, were not carried by any one athlete, having only Dan Wolff, Nathan Wright and Justin Rohrer qualify for regionals in more than one event.

Still, they edged Beaver Local in the team points race 102.5-101.

"All year, our boys have just been really deep," Gardner said. "We haven't had to stretch anyone over too many events. That limits people as far as double winners, but I think their overall performance is better in the events they are in."

Rohrer and Wolff were both members of the 4x800 team that advanced to regionals with a first-place finish in Wednesday's action (the top four placers in each event qualified for regionals).

Rohrer added a second in the 3,200-meter run, while Wolff grabbed a first in the 800. Wolff's two-minute 800 was a personal best, and also the best time for a West Holmes sophomore in the event.

Wright was a member of the 4x100 team that finished third. He also fished the 110 hurdles in 15.75 seconds, one of his best times, good for first.

"I would have liked to have done better, but it was good enough for today," Wright said of his 110 hurdles finish. "I came up sore two days ago and have been having trouble with my knee, but I took some Ibuprofen and it took some of the pain away.

"I kept practicing all week, so I guess it's all starting to pay off."

After just barely failing to qualify for regionals in discus with a fifth-place finish Wednesday, Rick Drushal came back in a big way Saturday. The Knights' senior landed a first in the shot put. Freshman Brant Finney took fourth in the steel ball, qualifying for his first regional meet.

"(Drushal) wasn't very happy Wednesday, or Thursday or Friday, so he said somebody's gonna pay," Gardner said. "He definitely had a new level of intensity, even for him."

Rounding out the boys regional qualifiers were Nile Smith in the 400 along with 4x400 squad.

In contrast to the boys, a thinner girls roster had a handful of athletes advance to regionals.

It was the field events, that carried the girls to 111 team points, 8.5 ahead of Tuscarawas Valley. Leading the way were Habrun and Middleton, who both qualified in the discus and shot put.

Habrun and Middleton went one and two in the shot Wednesday and followed up in the discuss at two and three, respectively.

"Our girls, throughout the year, when they have been successful at invitationals it's been based largely in field events," Gardner said. "Jen and Mariel were impressive through districts, with both girls qualifying in both events."

Dye added to that run in field events with a win in the pole vault, matching her best leap of 10 feet.

"I was happy I got my personal best," said Dye, who advance to state last season in the event. "I still think I can do better, because I came close on 10-3. "I think I need to focus on doing pole vault this week. I need to get out and practice some more."

Dye was also a member of the 4x800 team that will go to regionals for a second straight year and went to state last year. She was joined by Yoder, Fuzzell and Kelly Mohr.

Yoder added to her regional events with a first in the 800, while Drushal will join Dye in the pole vault at regionals after a third-place performance. Ali Drushal grabbed fourth in the 300 hurdles to move on.

Fuzzell will be at regionals competing in the 400 dash and 100 hurdles.

"It's still exciting to qualify no matter how many you do it," she said.

Marie Strouse qualified for regionals with a third in the 3,200 and Brittanie Mathie took fourth in the long jump.

"All our coaches were happy with everyone's effort this week," Gardner said. "A lot of them put it together this week and really stepped up when it counted most."

The regional meet will begin Wednesday at Lancaster and wrap up Saturday, with top four placers going to state in Dayton.

Craig Gifford can be reached at (330) 674-1811 or cgifford@the-daily-reocord.com